Abuja: More than 100 players are set to participate in the 2025 NTF-CBN Tennis Championship, scheduled to begin on July 21 at Package B of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the Senior Open Tennis Championship, now in its 46th edition, is organized by the Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF) and sponsored by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Speaking in Abuja ahead of the championship, CBN’s Acting Director of Corporate Communications, Hakama Sidi-Ali, stated that 64 players would compete in the men’s singles, while 32 players would participate in the women’s singles. Additionally, there will be 32 doubles teams in both the men’s and women’s categories, with 16 participants in each of the wheelchair events.
Sidi-Ali reaffirmed the bank’s longstanding commitment to nation-building through sports, highlighting the vital role young people play in national development. The championship has historically provided young talents with a platform to showcase their abilities on a national stage. This year’s event will include men’s and women’s singles and doubles, as well as wheelchair tennis for both genders, emphasizing the bank’s commitment to inclusive participation. The tournament offers young players from across the country a chance to compete at a national level and gain exposure to international selection pathways.
Over its four-decade history, the Senior Open Tennis Championship has produced some of the country’s most celebrated names in tennis, including Sunday Maku, David Imonite, Veronica Oyibokia-Iwebema, and Christy Agugbom. Players like Sarah Adegoke, Sylvester Emmanuel, Imeh Joseph, Oyinlomo Quadri, and Marylove Edwards were discovered through this championship. As the tournament prepares to welcome a new cohort of players, its longevity underscores sports as a meaningful part of the country’s youth development landscape.
NTF President Ifedayo Akindoju announced that preliminary matches would commence on Friday at the stadium, with the championship proper beginning on July 21. Akindoju emphasized that the annual championship, organized in close partnership with the CBN, has become a cornerstone of Nigeria’s tennis calendar and a crucial platform for identifying and nurturing local talents. He acknowledged the CBN’s continued support, describing it as instrumental in sustaining the growth of the sport. This support has strengthened Nigeria’s representation in major competitions such as the Davis Cup and the African Games. The NTF and the CBN have collaborated for decades to ensure the tournament remains a consistent and credible pipeline for the country’s top players.